Post by Master Yarak on Nov 2, 2004 16:06:08 GMT -5
Yes thats true. It probably would not be so obvious except most on here are very passionate about falconry and passion can make people do very different things. Besides you now have been here long enough to expect that from me, after all I am Yarak! Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
Post by Master Yarak on Nov 2, 2004 23:17:08 GMT -5
You have an open invite you will be welcomed Texas style! Yarak (even though you are a yankee)
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
Well, I just found somthing that works great. If all you need to do sharpen up a tad then here is a easy way to do it. I used Emory or 240grit sandpaper today and it worked great. In about 5mins on each toe(which was only four in all) I had blood drawing talons. Use a small thin dowl and wrap paper aroud then go to town. It's a lot faster than the water treatment way. Course, this way will not help if the talons are flat dull.-Zach
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.
I think everybody has problems with keeping the talons sharp. I remember when I have caught numerous hawks after having my first one and the one thing I look at is to see how sharp a wild caught bird talons are be cause Im very concerned with how thick the toes and how lage the feet are. Most are not that sharp. Any way one of my friends has a red tail he keeps tethered to the perch and the mew has a natural grass and dirt floor, I perosnally don't like this idea and Im always giving him crap for it, but his birds talons are a lot sharper than my birds. The best thing to do is to advoid hard wooden floors or any other surfaces that are harder than the birds talons. I use rubber mats on the floor I get them at Sams Club and they are cheap and interlock. They are not a hard rubber but are very durable. My birds taloons stay fairly sharp and she has no problems holding game. Each day she gets her chance to get in the water in the mew and by being hand fed she gets plenty of moisture from that on her talons.
Post by Master Yarak on Dec 9, 2004 23:42:29 GMT -5
Austin, Good info! Sharp talons are a good example of good husbandry! Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
Post by grendlesgirl on Apr 2, 2005 11:04:46 GMT -5
I recently remodeled my mews about a month ago. My mews is an old recording studio in my backyard. It is very large but had a cement floor. I had astroturf over the floor. The perches were all wood with astroturf over it. This was the out-door carpeting type of astroturf. When I remodeled there were several different opinions given by my sponsor and other falconers. One falconer said to buy a special type of board to put on the cement floor (very expensive). What I did was buy the plastic carpet protectors that are heavy plastic with knobs on the bottom and come in rolls at home depot. They come in runners to go down hallways, 10 feet for 5 bucks. 5 of those covered the bottom of the mews with the astroturf over that, plus gives some air circulation under the astroturf to keep things dry. I also put in a swing perch 6 feet long, and a 6 foot high perch in addition to the window and bow perch in there. Instead of turf over wood on the perches I took some of the foam that was soundproofing the studio and put it between all of the perches and the turf.
I would like to put in a natural branch perch when I find a good piece of branch. Does anyone have pictures of their "tested" natural perches?
Long story short, she is now getting a lot of exercise (in this warm weather she is maintaining her weight on a quail a day!) flying between all of her perches and her talons are already noticably sharper. Sharpening talons will only work for a few days if it is something in the environment is making them dull.
Also she had some very old areas healing on her feet. I was doing daily foot soaks for a month. When I remodeled the mews I stopped that. I have noticed just from having those minor changes made her feet are now almost totally healed which is amazing.
Anyhow, just thought I would share!! If anyone wants pics or has pics to share they can email me at grendlesgirl@msn.com
I used Roofing paper ontop of my Cement Mew floor.
ALOT Cheaper and works great.
A natural perch would be... hmmm a tree branch lol? I used an Oak branch once on my cadge and a Pine branch in my mew but got rid of that after deciding to free loft. Im not quite sure what exactly you mean by " Tested"
But if your wondering about needing to replace or if the bird will wear it down... dont worry. It will be fine.
Post by grendlesgirl on Apr 2, 2005 23:30:46 GMT -5
Yes, tree branch . . . tested meaning one that has been used without injuring the bird. Just curios if anyon ehad any pictures. Trying to be careful ; )
